Welcome Center
Dedicated in 2000, the 40,000 square foot Welcome Center at Crazy Horse Memorial® is the main entrance to the Visitor Complex. From the Welcome Center you can take a bus ride to the base of the mountain, watch the historic video in one of our two theaters, and enter the museums.
The Nature Gates
The Nature Gates are iron gates Korczak and Ziolkowski children decorated with the silhouettes of 219 animals (past and present) indigenous to South Dakota.
The Promise Painting
"The Promise” painting above the information desk, by the late Steve Fountain (1921-2007), shows Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear with the scale model & Thunderhead Mountain in the background.
Korczak's Home and Studio
Korczak lived in a tent the first year while he cut, peeled and notched the trees to build the log home. The furnishings and antiques came from his home in West Hartford. Korczak’s Studio and Home has many of Korczak’s works of art on display. Among these are the Horse’s Head that he carved in nine days, Old Pagen, and the Polish Eagle.
The “Big Room” as the Ziolkowski children call it, is still home for the family. Some holidays are celebrated in this room and the furniture does get used. You should see this room on Christmas Day!!
The Original Lobby
During the winter of 2002-2003, workers rebuilt the oldest part of the Crazy Horse Memorial® visitor complex, known affectionately by the Ziolkowski family as the “Back Porch.” Finishing work continued on the lobby interior during most of 2003.
Many of the popular features of the lobby remain, including the rock box (right) allowing visitors to take home a rock from the mountain. Another popular area is the lighted exhibit showing the carving of the Mountain and progression on the face of Crazy Horse in the 1990s.
Visitors also see large models of the head of Crazy Horse and the horse’s head. New exhibits are also planned for the Original Lobby.
The Gift Shop
Korczak’s Heritage, Inc. is a privately-owned business operating the gift shop at Crazy Horse with royalties to the Crazy Horse Memorial®. The beautiful gift shop includes exclusive Crazy Horse Gifts and a huge selection of Native American crafted items such as beadwork, jewelry, paintings, and much more.
Conference Facilities
Crazy Horse Memorial®, in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, is a one-of-a-kind setting for your conference, seminar, class, board meeting, retreat, family reunion, or other special event.
Crazy Horse Memorial’s Welcome Center houses conference facilities offering theater style seating for up to 300 people, break-out and small group rooms, restaurant and food service on premises, reception, and banquet and buffet capabilities. We look forward to working with you to meet your event needs.
The Wall of Windows
The Wall of Windows is at the end of the Welcome Center nearest The Mountain. Much of the wall facing the sculpture is windows resulting in an amazing view of the Carving in Progress.
